Drake University Accounting Program - CWL

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Unlike many accounting programs, students at Drake begin accounting studies as first-semester freshmen and then take 1-2 accounting courses each semester over four years of study. By starting accounting studies earlier, students have more flexibility in changing majors without the fear of extending studies beyond four years.

The Drake undergraduate degree requires 124 credit hours of study; at least 62 of these hours must be taken in subjects other than business. This strong liberal arts foundation differentiates the Drake accounting major, educating the individual, not just the accountant.

Drake’s undergraduate accounting program prepares students for positions in private accounting. Students pursuing careers in public accounting and CPA certification will need 150 college credits. The School of Accounting recommends graduate studies to meet these professional certification requirements.

DEGREE OPTIONS
Bachelor of Science in accounting (BSBA); Bachelor of Science with a joint major in accounting and another business discipline; master of accounting (MAcc); and master of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting (MBA)

FACULTY
The School of Accounting consists of eight full-time accounting and business law faculty members. All have the highest academic degree required to teach in their areas of expertise or significant “real world” experience. All share a love of teaching and student learning. Individual faculty members have received the college’s outstanding teacher award, outstanding scholarship award, the university’s outstanding service award, U.S. Fulbright Scholar award, and published accounting articles and textbooks. The faculty actively participate as members of Boards of Directors to maintain a connection with accounting practice.

ACADEMIC PREPARATION
Accounting requires no specific high school courses. However, successful students often bring experience in music or mathematics and logical thinking skills. The ability to organize, to create order out of disorder, is a characteristic of successful accountants. Interestingly, most students are surprised to learn that the ability to communicate effectively is a critical skill in accounting. So, writing courses are excellent preparation for communicating business complexities to users of accounting information.

SAMPLE COURSES
A student may choose to pursue the full accounting major, which requires 27 hours of accounting beyond Introduction to Accounting I and II, or a joint major in accounting and another discipline in the College of Business and Public Administration (CBPA).

ACCT 041, 042 - Introduction to Accounting I and II
ACCT 080 - Accounting Systems
BLAW 60 - Business Law I
BLAW 120 - Business Law II
ACCT 090 - Profit Planning and Control
ACCT 115 - Cost Accounting
ACCT 165, 166, 167 - Financial Accounting I, II and III
ACCT 175 - Auditing Principles
ACCT 155, 156 - Income Tax I and II (elective)
ACCT 125 - Cost Management Systems (elective)

Joint Accounting Majors
Accounting can be combined with actuarial science; corporate finance; information systems; insurance; international business; management; and marketing. The joint accounting major allows students to complete an in-depth study of both accounting and another business discipline within the 124 credit hours needed to obtain a BSBA. Three fewer accounting courses are required in the joint major than in the full accounting major, and some modifications of the other business major are made, as well. At the completion of the joint accounting major, a student meets the education requirements to sit for the Certified Management Accounting (CMA), Certificate in Financial Management (CFM) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) examinations.

The joint major enables graduates to seek accounting positions in industry, government, and the non-profit sectors, but it also provides those not interested in accounting as a career with a strong foundation in financial reporting, cost accounting, taxation of business entities and the auditing of operations. In addition, the joint major provides the undergraduate with the accounting courses needed to enter the MAcc program, if a student later decides to pursue the CPA.

DRAKE CURRICULUM
The Drake Curriculum, required of all undergraduates, is designed to help students meet personal and professional goals as they acquire fundamental knowledge and abilities in ten Areas of Inquiry, including communication, critical thinking, artistic experience, historical consciousness, information and technology literacy, international and multicultural experiences, scientific and quantitative literacy, values and ethics and engaged citizenship. Students work closely with their academic advisers to craft a program of study in general education that prepares students for civic and professional leadership.

The Drake Curriculum also requires first-year seminars, which foster development of critical thinking and written and oral communication skills through a topical focus; and a Senior Capstone, in which students demonstrate the capacity to bring information, skills and ideas to bear on one project.

INTERNSHIPS & OPPORTUNITIES
Internships are very important for students as they provide professional experience that most employers seek in potential employees. Virtually every accounting major who desires an internship is placed in both the junior and senior years. A variety of internships are available in both public accounting and private industry. Participating employers include Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Meredith Publishing, Deere & Company, Procter & Gamble, Farm Bureau Insurance, The Principal Financial Group, public accounting firms (e.g., Clifton Gunderson , Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young, KPMG, McGladrey & Pullen), and the U.S. Army Audit Agency.

CAREER OPTIONS
Employment opportunities are available for accounting graduates as auditors, tax consultants and business consultants in public accounting; in cost control, budgeting, internal auditing, financial reporting, financial management and tax planning in industry and the not-for-profit sector; and in government as auditors and financial managers. The accounting major is excellent preparation for a career in general management, since the ability to understand and evaluate accounting information is essential for effective managerial decision-making. The accounting major also readies students for law school and a legal career. Placement is near 100% in the accounting profession.

ORGANIZATIONS
Beta Alpha Psi is a national accounting honor society. All students of the College of Business and Public Administration may join one of the 2 professional fraternities, Delta Sigma Pi and Alpha Kappa Psi.

NOTED ALUMNI

• Bob Stein, BN'71, partner, Ernst and Young LLP, New York, NY
• Richard Anderson, BN'74, senior vice president of finance, Wellmark Inc., Des Moines, IA
• Timothy S. Webster, BN'83, president and chief executive officer, American Italian Pasta Company, Excelsior Springs, MO
• Peter B. Sayles, BN'94, manager-financial analysis, Proctor and Gamble, Stamford, CT
• Jen McDaniel, BN'97, financial analyst, the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA
• Carrie Naig, BN'97, business analyst, Caterpillar, Peoria, IL
• Sara Beth Martin, BN’00, Certified Public Accountant, Hallmark, Inc., Kansas City, MO
• Crystal Andersen, BN’01, auditor, Deloitte & Touche LLP, New York, NY
• Sameera Totagamuwa, BN’02, business valuation analyst, Clifton Gunderson LLP, West Des Moines, IA
• Ashley Zigmund, BN’04, consolidations accountant, Deere & Company, Moline, IL

Wang Leehom


Change me

Falling Leaf Returns to Root (Luo Ye Gui Gen)

Ai Chou,

A Simple Song,

Beside The Plum Blossoms,

Big City, Little Love,

Dream Again,

Forever Love,

Heroes of Earth,

Loving You is Loving Me,

Mary Says (Live),

You and Me,

You're Not Here,

Hua Tien Cuo,

Kiss Goodbye,

Wan Mei De Hu Dong (feat. Rain & J Lim),

The First Morning,

Shangri La